KEY BISCAYNE, Fla., (AP) – Rafael Nadal faded in the subtropical heat and retired after falling behind in the third set of his opening match Saturday at the Miami Open against Damir Dzumhur.
The No. 5-seeded Nadal trailed 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 when he called it quits after losing a point to fall behind 30-15. He had earlier consulted with a trainer three times at his chair between games, and had his blood pressure checked.
The match lasted less than two hours, but the weather was sunny and humid with a temperature approaching 90 degrees, and even higher on the stadium hardcourt.
It had been 443 matches since Nadal last retired – in the 2010 Australian Open quarterfinals against Andy Murray.
Dzumhur, a 23-year-old Bosnian ranked 94th, came from behind using a variety of tactics.